Why leaders who are good with the ‘human stuff’ thrive during tough times

As a leader, rising to the challenge of meeting the ‘people’ demands of a business is tricky, even during normal times. And not many would call the past few years normal.

We’re seeing an increase in employees who are ultrasensitive in the workplace. Post-pandemic issues are a big factor behind this and the higher cost of living also puts significant stress on people, both employees and customers. In June 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) had risen 6 per cent over the preceding year (ABS, 2023), and while interest rates have steadied over the past few months, costs remain high.

Leaders are facing heavier workloads, in some cases with fewer resources and smaller teams. They’re fighting the winds and waves of economic uncertainty, shifting generational needs, changing customer expectations and high employee turnover.

What’s a leader to do during these tough times? How can you stay calm, be an anchor for your people, weather the storm and not only survive but thrive yourself?

Engaged employees and happy customers – how? 

Just imagine what it would be like to drive into your workplace and see engaged employees and happy customers – consistently. How? By focusing on others.

If I were to define leadership for the future and what it means to be good at leading the ‘human stuff’, I would say this: it’s about creating the conditions for everyone’s skills to shine and getting the stuff done that matters to other people. As Martin Luther King said, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”’

When you’re faced with life-changing challenges, you need to act. However, you can’t achieve success and results in business single-handedly: the better your people are, the better the business will be. So, the ultimate question you must ask to lead in the future is: ‘Do those I serve grow?’ Are they happier, wiser, healthier, better off from working with you and in your business? Are they creating ripples that positively impact the people around them?

Effective leadership has always been synonymous with excellent people management, but people management is being redefined.

It’s not that past leadership styles were wrong or broken; it’s just that the world was less messed up is various ways than it is now, and that humanity was not as evolved as it is today. What worked for us back then was perfect at the time, but it won’t work now. We’ve evolved and leadership needs to evolve with us.

Being good at the human stuff is creating the workplace conditions that help people remember their human qualities – you’ll get the results you need, and you’ll simultaneously make the work meaningful and impactful for the people you serve. The result is that your days are easier, your team are more engaged and more willing to go above and beyond, and you bounce back quicker from the toughest days.

It’s time to break with what we have understood ‘leading people’ involves and imagine a game-changing new leadership style that addresses all five dimensions of service: physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual. 5D Service leadership, to weather the tough times.

5D Service leadership involves: 

• Empowerment. 5D Service leaders aim to empower their team members, fostering an environment where individuals feel confident and capable of taking initiative.
• Empathy. 5D Service leaders show understanding and consideration for the feelings and needs of their team members, promoting a supportive work environment.
• Collaboration. 5D Service leaders value teamwork and encourage collaborative problem-solving and decision-making processes.
• Long-term vision. 5D Service leaders focus on long-term goals and sustainability, prioritising these over short-term gains.
• Openness to feedback. 5D Service leaders are receptive to feedback and see it as a valuable tool for improvement and growth for themselves and their teams.
• Investment in people. 5D Service leaders invest in the growth and development of their team members, viewing them as valuable assets and recognising their potential.

Leaders are asked to embrace immense responsibility and accountability when it comes to the human stuff. And right now, there is a quiet, urgent, undeniable need for leaders to aspire to and restore humanity in business. We need a revolution in workplaces and how people serve each other.

Written by Jaquie Scammell.

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